The B arbera

Special Offerings

For guests wanting to savor more than lodgings named for a wine varietal, the Vintner’s Inn offers treats from its Folino Estate vineyards.

A complimentary glass of wine is offered to each lodger during normal check-in hours.

In addition, at 3pm each day, another complimentary glass of wine and a gourmet cheese board is provided.

First thing in the morning may well be too early for wine, but it’s perfect for the inn’s complimentary European breakfast, which, Andrea notes, pays especial homage to the family’s Italian roots.

Guests can mosey on down to the common area and indulge in baked croissants, sweet pastries, fresh fruits, muffins, as well as cheese and prosciutto. She notes a favorite of those pastries is a grape cake, the recipe of which is pulled from Italian tradition. It is a “harvest” cake made with fresh grapes, olive oil and orange zest, as well as almonds and possibly a hint of thyme.

While coffee is the standard wake-up beverage for most, a cappuccino offers the same or stronger caffeine kick and is more complementary to that Italianinspired breakfast.

For those guests savoring their privacy and wanting more, the inn staff delivers an enticing Folinosignature picnic basket to their door.

An on-site library and gift shop provide opportunities to purchase souvenirs or a good book. Lodgers can get to know each other a bit in the café area to perhaps tackle a game of chess or a challenging jigsaw puzzle.

Pathways and Parties

Guests – during their stays –also receive complimentary wine tastings at the estate, just 10 minutes down the road.

For those wanting to explore the historic borough of Kutztown and its surrounds, the inn also provides complimentary bike rentals.

The estate’s very navigable and attractive website also offers a full listing of local attractions and events to aid guests in exploring the area.

“I think sometimes we forget what is in our own backyard,” says Andrea. “This is a reminder to all of us, our family and staff included.”

Andrea hopes that by midsummer, Folino Estate

Winery will provide a shuttle bus that can transport guests between the venues, offsetting any concerns about impaired driving following a celebratory dinner or occasion.

The inn has the space and ability to host its own wine dinners, with a special emphasis on the beautiful, secluded – and covered – courtyard area.

On occasion, such as for full wedding parties or corporate events, the entire inn will be booked by one entity. Andrea says the innkeeper especially delights in the joyful gatherings, particularly families that bring loved ones together under one beautiful roof.

The innkeeper also loves hosting guests from afar, be it out of state or out of country. Both the estate and inn benefit from the geographical location in northern Berks.

Interstate 78 provides nearly direct access from the New York, New Jersey and Connecticut metropolitan areas. The Philadelphia metro area is less than 90 minutes away, and just further afield to the south and east are Maryland and Delaware.

Andrea credits the Greater Reading Chamber Alliance and the Northeast Berks and Lehigh Chambers as being valuable promotional partners for the inn and estate. With the pending opening of the Vintner’s Table in Wyomissing and potentially another within the next three years in the Bethlehem area, the cross-promotional efforts are only likely to increase.

The Wyomissing location will feature indoor and outdoor dining, a wine tasting bar and a sangria bar, a new twist.

“The sangrias are among our top sellers so we created an extra spot for this and we’re excited to test it with the local market,” she says.

“The plan is to continue to open more of them,” she says of the Vintner’s Tables and other aspects of the business which has increased the full- and part-time staffs to 150.

The growth of the business is a happy mirror to Andrea’s and Marco’s growing family which includes three children, ages 9, 5 and 2.

“My husband and I have a lot pulling us,” she says, “but it’s all good and very positive.”

401 W. Main St. Kutztown | 610.683.0401 vintners-inn.com